








<5>. ^0^ c " " o ■» O 














■^ <^ 



o « o 




^4 o 






» A. 







-or ^ -^ ^*r-^ - X 






















A^ 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2011 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/goldengateatchauOOches 



at Qlljautattqua 



-BY- 



ANSON G. CHESTER 

AUTHOR OF 

The Tapestry Weavers 

Inscribed by permission to the Reverend Bishop and Chancellor 

JOHN H. VINCENT, D. D. 



Copyright 1908 by Anson G. Chester. 



<b° 



<b 






\V 






I I wo OOpltS rtSCCIVOtl 

JUN 13 ^908 



^"a^/^ 



Letter from the Reverend Bishop and Chancellor 

JOHN H. VINCENT, D. D., 

to the author of the poem. 



Indianapolis, Ind. , 

November 11, 1907 
Rev. Dr. Anson G. Chester, 
Buffalo, N. Y. 

Dear Sir and Brother : 

I am simply delighted with "The Golden Gate at 
Chautauqua." 

It is a great honor which you propose, to have the 
book inscribed to me. 

The poem itself is a most exquisite presentation of 
the real mission of the Golden Gate. 

The Gate is simply a symbol. It shows that a way 
has been won by a candidate for admission into St. Paul's 
Grove and into the Hall of Philosophy. It is a Golden 
Gate because of the privilege which it confers, and the 
value of the work which we trust has been wrought for and 
in the individual, through the ministry of the Chautauqua 
Literary and Scientific Circle. 

I repeat that I was delighted with the poem. 

Faithfully yours, 

John H. Vincent. 



The Golden Gate 
at etiautauqua 



By Anson G. Chester 



If at last you would enter 
the Golden Gate, 

You must faithfully study 
and patiently wait — 

Till the tasks are finished, 
the work is done. 

And the honors in waiting 
are fairly won. 



None pass but the once 

through the Gate of Gold, 

It opens, it closes — 
the whole is told. 



For else would its sentiment 

all be lost, 
And itself be common, 

like rain and frost. 



It may be early, it may 

be late, 
The hour you arrive 

at the Golden Gate. 



For the old and the young, 
both wrinkled and fair. 

Are ever most eagerly 
hastening there. 



Who finally gain it, they 

put away 
The tasks that challenged 

them day by day. 



They have studied long, 
they have striven hard, 

But here there is triumph 
and here reward. 



They have reached the goal 
of their hope and love, 

The portal that welcomes 
to Saint Paul Grove. 



So they pass through the Gate 

and the arches gay, 
Where the singers are chanting 

their ** Song of To-day." 



March on through the Gate 
and the evergreen bowers. 

To the pillared hall 

on a path of flowers. 



Flowers strewn by little ones 
fair and sweet, 
A highway of blossoms 
for conquering feet. 



And there they are greeted 

as victors true 
In a contest all old, 

but forever new. 



And credentials gain 

from the wise and great. 
High priests and seers 

of the Golden Gate. 



^s-» 



The strenuous purpose it is 

that wins. 
The purpose once ripened, 

the Hfe begins. 



The active life, with its fate 
unknown. 
Where each must conquer 
or fail alone. 



But they pass to the conflict 
with sword and shield. 

As the brave warrior goes 
to the battle-field. 



They are men and women 

accoutered fine 
With strength that beggars 

the thrill of wine. 



Their loins are girded, 
their weapons true, 

They are ready to fight 
and to conquer, too! 



It is wise to strive, 
it is good to wait. 

For the right to enter 
the Golden Gate. 










'v^* 

















-^0^ 











"'\ ^^^^Mm>y /^'^^^^^ /.c:^."-o 















^j> 



•^^ ^ 
^^^ 




















U^ -^ A^ »*| 



C" 



0' 




"oV 







^. ... .-y^-. -..^/ ,^.„ .^^^,* ,^'. ^.^^^/ • 



°- '^ 





rrs* ,G^ '^" 










yr??^* o 



